Clara Thornwick's Arc

Chapter 2 of 2

Clara dragged a metal crate through the clinic's front room, her claws scraping against the floor. Dust coated every surface. She needed to make this place clean enough for medical work. Her supplies sat in careful stacks against one wall—bandages, medicine, sterile tools. But none of it mattered if the building stayed filthy. She pulled out a stiff brush and a bottle of cleaning solution. The brush felt tiny in her massive hands, but she gripped it carefully and started scrubbing the nearest counter. Brown grime came away in streaks. Her arms ached after the first hour. The work was slow and hard, but she kept going. By the time the light faded outside, one counter gleamed clean. Tomorrow she'd do another. Then another. One surface at a time until the whole clinic was ready. The next morning, Clara walked the building's perimeter and found a problem. The power connection flickered and died twice while she tested it. Medical equipment needed steady electricity—sterilizers, diagnostic tools, anything that might save a life. She couldn't risk equipment shutting down during treatment. After searching through abandoned buildings for three days, she found a generator with glowing panels and smooth metal casing. She hauled it back and set it up outside the clinic wall. The circuitry hummed when she connected it. She flipped switches inside and watched the lights hold steady. Her chest swelled with relief. The clinic had backup power now. When someone finally walked through that door needing help, she'd be ready.